Carburetor



Oct. 19, 1937. p, RElTMEYER 2,096,407

CARBURETOR Original Filed Feb. 21, 1934 Q A f I X I M /E 24 58 22 j z, *5 i ,6 45 l/MM Patented Oct. 19, 1937' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE CARBURETOR Philip K. Reitmeyer, Hanford, Calif.

Application February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,324 Renewed April 2'7, 1937 5 Claims.

This invention relates to carburetors for producing explosive mixtures for operating internal combustion engines. A general object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical carburetor that is capable of effectively breaking up and vaporizing a volatile liquid fuel to produce an explosive mixture for the successful efiicient operation of the engine with which it is connected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor in which the incoming air is made to spirally revolve in a column and in which the liquid fuel is sprayed into this column at an acute angle thereto to be thoroughly vaporized and broken up through a centrifugal action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor that heats the air and the liquid fuel to desirable predetermined temperatures prior to their admixture whereby the carburetor is capable of producing explosive mixtures from comparatively heavy or low grade fuels for the proper efficient operation of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor of the character mentioned that includes an adjustable jet or sprayer for discharging the liquid fuel outwardly within the spirally rotating column of air to effect a complete distribution and carburetion of the liquid fuel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor of the character mentioned having a mixing chamber provided on its wall with a helical or spiralled flange for causing the air passing through the chamber to rotate and thus bring about a cyclonic induction of the liquid fuel sprayed into the rotating column.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor that is readily adapted for use on various makes and types of internal combustion engines and that embodies a heating manifold and a fuel reservoir assembly that may be easily and quickly set in any rotative position as may be required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carburetor of the character mentioned that includes an automatic means for preheating the liquid fuel to maintain the fuel at a desirable predetermined temperature under all conditions of operation of the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insert for the manifold of the engine with which the carburetor of the invention is employed for continuing the rotation of the air initiated in the carburetor and to complete the atomication of the fuel and to insure a more perfect distribution of the explosive mixture to the cylinders of the engine.

Other objects and features of the invention will be better and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the carburetor of the invention illustrating it in connection with a typicalinternal combustion engine of the class employed in vehicles. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view of the carburetor and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the attachment or insert apart from the manifold.

The carburetor provided by this invention includes, generally, a tubular body I 0 adapted to be connected with the intake manifold M of an internal combustion engine E and providing an elongate mixing chamber I l, a heating manifold I2 around the body I0, means l3 for jetting or spraying liquid fuel into the mixing chamber II and means M for preheating the liquid fuel supplied to the spraying means l3.

The body I0 is an elongate tubular member or structure whose longitudinal opening forms the air inlet passage and mixing chamber II. The body I0 is preferably of considerable length and is intended to be connected with the intake manifold M of the engine. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawing a flange I5 is provided on the upper end of the body l0 and is connected with the flange l6 of the manifold M by spaced bolts H. The body In is connected with the manifold M so that the chamber II is in direct longitudinal alignment with the passage P in the receiving arm or branch B of the manifold M. A fitting or elbow I8 is provided on the lower end of the body ID. The elbow IB is adjustably and removably connected with the body ID by spaced screws I9 in a manner so that it may be set or positioned to have its laterally projecting mouth extending in any desired or required direction.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of means in the body ill for causing the incoming air to rotate in a spiral manner as it passes through the body into the manifold M. The means for causing rotation or spiralling of the air comprises a helical or spiralled flange on the wall of the mixing chamber H. The spiralled flange 20 is preferably comparatively long and may extend from the lower end of the chamber II to a point adjacent the upper end of the body ID. The rotation producing flange 26 may be cast or formed integrally with the body III or may be a spiralled spring-like member inserted in the chamber II and suitably attached to the body. The flange 20 is of uniform pitch throughout its length and its convolutions are of substantial width. The air flowing or passing upwardly through the chamber impinges against the spiralled flange 26 and is thus given a spiralled rotary motion. The central portion of the inflowing column of air is induced to rotate by the cyclonic action of the outer stratum of air at the flange 26. When the air reaches the upper portion of the mixing chamber II it is rotating at a substantial velocity and while rotating in this manner is drawn through the passage P into the manifold M.

Valve means is provided in connection with the carburetor for governing the flow through the mixing chamber II to regulate the operation of the engine E. A throttle valve 2| is provided in the upper end portion of the mixing chamber II. The throttle valve 2| may be in the nature of a butterfly valve and may be operated or regulatedby a suitable operating means 22. The throttle valve 2| is positioned where it does not interfere with the flange 20 and where it does not extend or project into the manifold passage P. A choke in the form of a butterfly valve 23 may be provided in the mouth or passage of the elbow I8.

The heating manifold I2 surrounds the body I0 and utilizes the heated gases of combustion of the engine E to heat the air and mixture in the chamber II. The manifold l2 includes a tubular shell 24 surrounding the body I0 and plates 25 and 26 closing the upper and lower ends of the shell 24, respectively. The shell 24 is considerably larger in diameter than the body II] to provide a comparatively large heating chamber 21. The plate 25 has an opening passing the body l0 and is attached to the body at a point below the flange l5. An annular peripheral recess 28 is provided in the under side of the plate 25 to receive the upper end portion of the shell 24; The lower plate 26 surrounds the body I0 adjacent its lower end and has a peripheral recess 29 in its upper side receiving the lower end of the shell 24. A nut 30 is threaded on the body I0 to engage the plate 26 to clamp together the manifold assembly and to hold it against movement.

It is a feature of the invention that the shell 24 and parts associated therewith may be turned to any desired rotative position to adapt the carburetor for installation on various types of engines without disturbing or modifying the body I0. When the nut 30 is loosened the shell 24 and plate 26 may be turned together or independently to any rotative positions. A pipe 3| extends from the exhaust manifold of the negine E to the upper portion of the shell 24 where it communicates with the chamber 21. An exhaust or discharge pipe 32 communicates with the lower portion of'the chamber 21 and extends to any suitable point. The gases of combustion from the engine E are passed through the pipe 3| to circulate through the chamber 21 and then discharge through the pipe 32. The heat of these gases warms or heats the air and explosive mixture in the mixing chamber II and maintains the body I0 and its flange 20 at a suitable temperature. The flange 20 in addition to causing rotation of the air operates as a heat radiating element or fin on the wall of the mixing chamber II,

The carburetor includes a liquid fuel reservoir 33. The reservoir 33 is preferably connected or associated with the heating manifold I2. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawing the reservoir 33 is integrally joined with the shell 24. A fuel supply line 35 communicates with the lower end' of the reservoir chamber. A valve seat 36 is provided at thedischarge of the line 35 and a needle valve 31 is adapted to cooperate with the seat 36 to control the flow of fuel into the reservoir. The stem of the valve 3'! is engaged by two weighted levers 38 which normally tend to move the valve to its open position out of cooperation with the seat 36. A float 39 is provided in the reservoir 33 to engage the levers 38 and move the valve 31 to its olosedposition as the level of the fuel in the reservoir rises.

A line or pipe 40 delivers the liquid fuel from the reservoir 33 to the jetting or spraying means I3. It is a feature of the invention that the pipe 40 extends from the reservoir 33 into the heating chamber 21 so that the liquid fuel is warmed or heated as it is conducted to the spraying means I3. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing the pipe 40 passes through an opening in the plate 26 and has a coil 4|) in the heating chamber 21 of the manifold I2. The heating coil 40 may surround the body II] in the lower portion of the chamber 21. The pipe 40 passes out of the chamber 21 from the coil 40 and is connected with a boss 4| projecting from the' elbow I8. The boss 4| has a fluid passage 42 which receives the liquid fuel from the pipe 40.

The means I3 for jetting or spraying the liquid fuel into the mixing chamber includes a tube 43 projecting upwardly from the passage 42 to extend through the chamber The tube 43 extends centrally and longitudinally through the chamber II to a point suitably spaced below the throttle valve 2 I. A spray head or nozzle head 44 is provided to control the discharge of fuel from the upper end of the tube 43. The nozzle head 44 is carried by a stem 45 which extends longitudinally through the tube 43 and the boss 4|. The head 44 overlies the upper end of the tube 43 presenting a flat lower face which is normally spaced from and in opposition to the flat upper end of the tube. The base of the head 44 where it joins the stem 45 may be conical or flared upwardly and outwardly. It will be apparent how the head 44 causes the liquid fuel to be sprayed radially outwardly in all directions into the chamber II. The evenly distributed fuel sprayed from the upper end of the tube 43 enters the revolving column of air in the mixing chamber II and is thoroughly mixed therewith. The air in the upper portion of the chamber revolves at a substantial velocity and the liquid fuel is effectively vaporized and broken up by a centrifugal action.

Means is provided for regulating or adjusting the nozzle head 44. The stem 45 is threaded longitudinally through a plug 46 on the lower end of the boss 4| An adjusting knob or handle 41 is provided on the projecting end of the stem 45 to facilitate the turning of the stem. A suitable packing gland 48 may be provided to seal about the stem 45. The stem 45 may be turned or adjusted to regulate the discharge from the upper end of the tube 43.

The means I4 operates to heat the liquid fuel flowing through the pipe 40 when it falls below a predetermined temperature and thus automatica-lly provides for the supplying of the liquid fuel to the spraying means l3 at a pretermined temperature, regardless of the engine operation or the engine temperatures. The means 14 is in the nature of a thermally controlled electric heating means. The means I4 includes a heating coil surrounding the portion of the pipe 40 which passes from the manifold I2 to the boss 4|. The coil 50 is preferably enclosed in a suitable housing 5|. One lead 52 from the coil 50 extends to a suitable control switch or to the ignition switch of the engine with which the carburetor is employed, so that the heating coil 50 is conditioned for energization upon conditioning or turning on of the ignition system. The other lead '53 of the coil 50 is grounded through a thermostat or thermostatic switch. The thermostat is arranged on the pipe 40 so that its temperature responsive contact arm or arms 54 are subjected to the temperature of the fuel flowing through the pipe. When the fuel temperature drops below a certain point the contacts 54 engage one another to complete the circuit to the ground through the coil 50. The coil 50 thus operates to warm or heat the fuel flowing through the pipe 40 in the event that the temperature of the fuel becomes too low.

The invention includes an attachment or insert I for continuing the rotation of the explosive air and fuel mixture, initiated by the flange 20, to ,cause a more complete carburetion and to provide for a more perfect distribution of the explosive mixture to the two oppositely extending arms or branches of the manifold M. The insert I is adapted to be arranged or positioned in the passage P of the manifold at or adjacent the point of connection of the carburetor body It] with the manifold. The insert I includes a tubular body and a spiralled flange 6| in the body.

The tubular body 60 of the insert I is adapted to be inserted or positioned in the passage P and is preferably proportioned to closely lie against the walls of the passage. Means is provided for holding or retaining the body 60 in place. A radially projecting lip 62 is provided on the lower end of the body 60 to be clamped between the flanges l5 and H5 in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The length of the body 60 may depend upon the length of the branch B of the manifold M and the body preferably terminates adjacent the upper end of the branch B.

The helical or spiralled flange 6| is provided on the inner wall of the tubular body 60 and preferably extends throughout the length of the body. The flange 6| is pitched in the same direction as the spiralled flange 20 and may be in the form of a double flange similar to a double thread. The mixture of air and fuel after passing the throttle valve 2| contacts or impinges against the flange 6| which causes it to rotate or to continue to rotate. This rotating explosive mixture is evenly or equally distributed to the two oppositely extending arms of the manifold M because of its rotary motion. It will be seen that the flange 6| continues the rotary motion of the incoming column of air and fuel initiated by the spiral flange 20 in the carburetor body II].

It is believed that the operation of the carburetor provided by this invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description. During operation of the engine the liquid fuel is supplied to the tube 43 by the pipe 4|] extending from the reservoir 33. After the engine E has been in operation the gases of combustion circulated through the chamber 21 from the pipe 3| effectively heat the fuel flowing through the pipe 40 and heat the body l0 and its flange 20. The warmed or heated fuel sprayed from the upper end of the tube 43 under the nozzle head 44 enters the incoming air being drawn into the manifold M. As described above, the helical flange 20 causes the air passing upwardly through the chamber H to spiral or rotate and this rotary motion of the air brings about a complete atomization of the sprayed liquid fuel. As the body H1 is surrounded by the heating manifold 12 its walls and the flange 20 are at a comparatively high temperature so that the liquid fuel that may come into contact with the body or flange is immediately volatilized. The liquid fuel sprayed from the upper end of the tube 43 is thus thor oughly mixed with the rotating column .of air passing through the chamber H. The flange 6| of the insert I causes the mixture to continue to rotate as it enters the upper portion of the manifold M. The flow through the carburetor may be checked by means of the choke valve 23 and may be suitably regulated or throttled by the throttle valve 2|. In the event that the fuel passing through the pipe 40 is at a low temperature the thermostat 54 completes the electric circuit through the coil 50 whereby the coil operates to warm the liquid fuel. The means l4, if connected with the ignition switch of the engine E, automatically becomes operative when the engine E is started when in a cool or cold state. The carburetor may be readily adjusted by turning the handle 41 on the stem 45 and is adapted for installation on various types and makes of engines. As described above, the manifold l2 and the parts associated therewith may be turned to any required rotative position on the body [I] after loosening the nut 30. If desired or found necessary the screws 19 may be removed to permit the turning of the elbow l8 with or independently of the manifold I2. The carburetor of the present invention is effective in operation and simple of manufacture. I

Having described only a typical form and app cation of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited or restricted to the specific form and application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A carburetor including a body having an elongate chamber with one end open to receive air and the other end to communicate with the intake manifold of an engine to conduct a column of air to the manifold, means acting on the peripheral portion of the column of air to cause the air to rotate spirally as it passes longitudinally through the chamber, there being a clear unobstructed central longitudinal zone in the chamber, a liquid fuel conduit extending into said zone of the chamber, and a spray head for causing fuel discharging from the conduit to be sprayed into the rotating column of air at an acute angle to its direction of movement.

2. A carburetor including a body having an elongate air conducting chamber with one end open to receive air and the other end to communicate with the intake manifold of an engine, a helical flange in the chamber for acting on the peripheral portion of the column of air passing through the chamber to cause the air to rotate spirally as it passes longitudinally through the chamber, the flange being proportioned to leave a direct clear longitudinal zone in the chamber, a heating manifold around the body, and. a liquid fuel nozzle discharging in said zone of the chamber.

3. A carburetor including a body having an elongate fluid conducting chamber with one end to receive air and the other end to communicate with the intake manifold of an engine, a helical,

flange on the wall of the chamber operating on the peripheral portion of the column of fluid passing through the chamber to cause the fluid to rotate spirally as it passes longitudinally through the chamber, the flange being proportioned to leave a direct unobstructed central zone in the chamber, and a centrally disposed nozzle in the chamber discharging liquid fuel radially outwardly into the rotating column of fluid.

4. A carburetor including a body having a longitudinal mixing chamber for communicating with the intake manifold of an engine, a heating manifold around the body, means for circulating the heated gases of combustion of the engine through the heating manifold, a nozzle for discharging in the mixing chamber, a fuel supply-pipe having a coil portion in the heating manifbld and communicating with the nozzle, and a thermostatically controlled electrical means for heating the fuel flowing through the pipe.

5. A carburetor including a body having an elongate chamber for passing a column of fluid,

.an elongate fuel tube arranged longitudinally in the chamber, a spray head at the outer end of the tube, means for supplying fuel to the tube, means surrounding the fuel tube and spaced therefrom to cause rotation of the column of fluid, a heating manifold around the body for heating the column as it passes through the chamber, and means for circulating heated gases of combustion of the engine through the manifold.

' PHILIP K. REI'I'MEYER. 

